Tag Archives: John Legend

Tricks and treats and plenty of ear candy is on the schedule this week, as we enter the last Friday before Halloween. Who’s going to spook the top spot? These are the notable digital and physical releases hitting the market today:

LUKAS GRAHAM – 3 (The Purple Album) (iTunes)
Best known for the international smash “7 Years”, which topped the Hot AC and Top 40 radio charts here in the U.S., the Danish band is back with their newest album. It features the radio single “Love Someone”, which is currently climbing through top 20 at the former format and impacting at the latter this coming Tuesday.

THE STRUTS– Young & Dangerous (iTunes)
Featuring the Alternative radio hit “Body Talks”, which sits just below the top ten at the format, these rockers are turning up the volume on the chart with their new set. It should easily surpass the peak of their last album, which barely cracked the top 100.

TORY LANEZ– Love Me Now? (iTunes)
With “Talk To Me”, a collaboration with Rich The Kid, now in the top ten at Urban radio, Canadian performer Lanez will likely have a good opening week for his second album of 2018. Will it continue his top five streak on the Billboard 200?

When it comes to the album chart, we have so many questions. Will it be a December to remember for new releases? Who’s going to surprise us with a new set? Will 2016’s Christmas albums ho-ho-hold the buying public’s attention and zoom to the top? I don’t have the answers to everything, but I do know this: here are the week’s notable album and single releases!

VARIOUS ARTISTS — The Hamilton Mixtape (iTunes)Hamilton remains one of the most popular shows on Broadway, and this new set, featuring popular acts remaking songs from the original soundtrack, wants to be elected the president of the pop charts next week. Kelly Clarkson‘s take of “It’s Quiet Uptown” is charting in the lower rungs of the Hot AC chart. While it remains to be seen if these covers from Hamilton will chart as well as a musical like Hair‘s did, with four making the Hot 100’s top ten in 1969, the overall set is sure to be a winner with many.

JOHN LEGEND — Darkness And Light(iTunes)
You can find this performer on the above release, or you can check out his latest studio album this week. While radio shows him a little “Love”, as “Love Me Now” charts at multiple formats, the buying public should as well. Expect a debut somewhere in the top five on the Billboard 200, much like his other solo studio efforts.

THE ROLLING STONES — Blue & Lonesome(iTunes)
The Stones are the Stones, and even a full covers album is going to sell for the legendary rock group. “Just Your Fool” is receiving some minor airplay at the Triple A format. You’ll probably find this in the top ten, with the upper demo driving much of the total.

It’s finally here… the week before the 56th Annual GRAMMY Awards, airing on Sunday, January 26 at 8PM Eastern on CBS. This week on POP! Goes The Charts, we’ll be taking a look at nearly half the categories on the list and laying out who I think will taking home a prize or two or five (maybe!) on the big day. Today, we continue with the fields for R&B and Rap music.

PREDICTION: Many of the winners in this category are generally successful on the R&B survey, and with a former top 5 hit on the Urban airwaves as well as a #2 album, singer Tamar Braxton stands out with her single “Love And War”. It is one smooth track.

PREDICTION: A few of these acts really don’t have a lot of coverage out on social media. Fantasia, a prior nominee in this category, has a good shot, but if he isn’t a winner in Best Rock Song, I think Gary Clark, Jr. may take this one with “Please Come Home”.

PREDICTION: Even though he was shut out of the Big Four, a huge shock to many, Justin Timberlake‘s “Pusher Love Girl” was a fan favorite from his album. Hard to believe it didn’t even get an Urban AC servicing. I think it will pull off the trick here.

PREDICTION: This category is probably going to end up being won by a female; I was initially going to pick Rihanna for the win, but I think this is Tamar Braxton‘s year to shine at The GRAMMY’s. Otherwise, this may be some bull you know what.com.

PREDICTION: Both Keys and Legend are prior winners here, so the choice is ultimately between them. However, this is the only award that John Legend is up for and he’s singing “All Of Me” on the show, so be prepared for him to walk away with this one.

PREDICTION: Heavy hitters are a-plenty here, a few of whom could win in bigger categories. However, given the rock field and all the older acts there, the Billy Squier sample and Rick Rubin production on “Berzerk” by Eminem could help secure a win.

PREDICTION: I’m convinced that one of the Jay Z collaborations is going to win here — question is, which one? “Holy Grail” was the hit, but “Part II (On The Run)” packs some marriage power and a potential performance. However, I’m going with “Grail”.

PREDICTION: Since 2010, either Jay Z or Kanye West have won this particular award, both separately and together. Once again, they’re competing against each other. Yet, this category usually goes to a hit song, so “Holy Grail” is your best best for the win.

PREDICTION: Best Rap Album hasn’t gone to a newcomer in some time, and it generally goes to an act with a large first-week, which should pit Drake vs. Jay Z. The Canadian rapper won last year for Take Care; I’m guessing that a repeat is in the cards.
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Check back tomorrow to see what I’m thinking for the Dance and Pop categories! Until then, follow the blog below and find us on social media by click the “Get Social!” tab.

Hope you had an awesome Labor Day weekend! Now that the barbecue’s over, let’s take a look at what’s grilling on the album survey this week with all the notable releases for September 3:

She’s also over Nickelodeon with her latest series Sam & Cat and now actress and singer Ariana Grande will be starring on the Billboard 200 next week with her first album, Yours Truly. It features singles “Baby I”, “The Way” and her collaboration with Mika, “Popular Song”. The album’s already top 5 in several dozen countries as is, so look for it to do big numbers in the U.S. as well. (iTunes)

With their first major label recording in six years, Nine Inch Nails are backwith Hesitation Marks, featuring the recent top ten Alternative single “Came Back Haunted”. It should debut in the top 5 as most of their albums have.(iTunes)

My picks of the week come from two bands out of the United Kingdom who are just breaking here in the States. Bastille is out with the U.S. release of Bad Blood (iTunes), led by “Pompeii” (the current #1 single on my chart), while The 1975 debut with a self-titled album featuring the #5 song my top 40, “Chocolate”. (iTunes) Both are favorites on Alternative radio and should do well with the public both first week and in the long term.

With a pack of big solo singles behind her in the past few months, Tamar Braxton is feeling the groove on Love And War, her first album in thirteen years. New single “All The Way Home” is already lighting up the Urban AC airwaves. (iTunes)

Also on the R&B side of things, John Legend gets experimental on his latest album, Love In The Future. With five top ten albums since 2005, this one could see similar results, though it will likely fade away quickly due to little radio play at the moment. (iTunes)

Rockers Pepper make it to stores with a self-titled album, their first full-length release in five years. “FKARND”, the lead single, is just below the top 20 on Alternative radio. (iTunes)

His album Time went to #7 earlier this year; now, from Mercury Records, comes a Rarities album from Rod Stewart. It features material recorded by the singer from 1969 to 1974. (iTunes)

Two original soundtracks from television programs are out this week: a second volume of songs from Boardwalk Empire (iTunes) and Songs From Scandal: Music For Gladiators. (iTunes)

Other albums out this week include Craig Morgan‘s The Journey: Livin’ Hits (iTunes), One Day I’m Going To Soar by Dexys (formerly Dexys Midnight Runners of “Come On Eileen” fame) (iTunes), Trouble by Natalia Kills (iTunes) and UB40‘s Getting Over The Storm (iTunes).